Texas Woman’s enrolls most diverse student body ever

Sept. 10, 2021 — DENTON — Texas Woman’s University enrolled its most diverse student body ever this fall, and posted significant gains among first-time-in-college students and graduate students, a preliminary census count shows.

Overall, enrollment at Texas Woman’s dipped from 16,440 in fall 2020 to 16,326 for fall 2021, a decrease of .7%. The latest census count ranks as the university’s second-highest in history.

“There is a tremendous interest in a TWU education from prospective students and their families, and the increase in first-year enrollment is a testament to the quality education that Texas Woman’s provides,” said Vice President for Student Life Monica Mendez-Grant, Ed.D., who oversees enrollment management at the university. 

Incoming students attending college for the first time jumped 14.5% from a year ago. The growth was paced primarily by Hispanics, whose numbers increased by 13.6% over the previous year. Overall, Hispanics comprised 40% of the first-time-in-college cohort; African-Americans accounted for 21.4% of the entering class; and Asians made up 10.4%.

Minorities now make up 57.9% of the entire student body, a slight increase from the 57.3% reported a year earlier, making Texas Woman’s overall student population the most diverse ever.

Texas Woman’s is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, and the university routinely has been recognized among the nation’s most diverse institutions. Last year, U.S. News & World Report ranked the university as the most diverse in Texas and the fifth-most diverse institution in the nation.

Besides the growth in diversity, graduate enrollment increased 4.6% from fall 2020, which was driven by a 9.1% gain in continuing graduate students. Overall, graduate students account for 37% of the overall student body this fall, up from 35.2% in 2020.

“I am tremendously proud of the efforts of our faculty and staff and their focus on preparing student leaders within a resilient, safe and caring campus community,” Mendez-Grant said. “Texas Woman’s remains a top choice for students who are seeking an affordable, accessible and engaging student experience.”

The preliminary enrollment count was tallied on the 12th class day and must be certified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.